The film is set ten years after the events of Terminator 2 . John Connor (Nick Stahl) is now a young adult living "off the grid"—working construction jobs under the table, homeless, and refusing to carry a phone or credit cards, fearing that Skynet will track him. Although he survived the events of the previous film, he feels hollow, believing he was meant to die in 1997.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines serves as the bridge between the classic 90s era and the modern franchise. It honors the original lore while providing a definitive, albeit dark, conclusion to the "present day" storyline. For fans of heavy metal mayhem and existential dread, it remains a vital chapter in the Skynet saga. Terminator 3 Rise of The Machines
The T-X is programmed to kill John and his future officers, while a reprogrammed T-850 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to protect John. Along the way, John and the T-850 form an unlikely alliance with Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), John's future ally and love interest. The film is set ten years after the events of Terminator 2